Visit: Benjamin Leroux – tasting of the 2015s

Benjamin Leroux is one of the most talented winemakers of his generations. A few years back he resigned from his job as régisseur at Comte Armand, and is now focusing on this own negociant business in Beaune.

Maison Benjamin Leroux was launched with the 2007 vintage, and has gradually been expanded over the years, and now has a lovely selection of both red and whites.

On my March trip to Burgundy I had the pleasure of revisiting Benjamin in the lovely cellars in Beaune located in the old Jaboulet-Vercherre buildings just behind the Bichot complex in Beaune.

The 2015s from Benjamin Leroux

Benjamin was preparing the wines for bottling, so not all was were available for tasting, I did however taste a nice selection of both the whites and the reds.

The quality of the white 2015s here is very good, as the style really suits the vintage. The reds are very fine, and showing some variation as by all other producers – some terroirs and wines are slightly cooler than others in this relatively hot vintage.

Benjamin Leroux, Auxey-Duresses Blanc 2015
The “entry level” white – the Auxey-Duresses Blanc is showing a nice coolness for the vintage. Good balance with quite fresh and energetic fruit. A quite rich wine for this level offering a lovely balance and detail.

(Drink from Now) – Good– (85 – 87p) – Tasted 29/03/2017 – bottled.

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Benjamin Leroux, Chassagne-Montrachet 2015
The Chassagne village is quite cool and rather reductive currently. The nose offer white and yellow fruit – delivered with a citrus/grape infused minerality. On the palate focused and balanced with a very good vibrant energy and a nice mineral backbone.

(Drink from 2022) – Very Good– (88 – 89p) – Tasted 29/03/2017

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Benjamin Leroux, Meursault Genevrieres 2015
The Meursault les Genevrieres 2015 is a quite refined and detailed effort for the vintage. The bouquet offer plenty of rich fruit – quite cool but with some exotic fruits interlinked with the citrus driven minerality. On the palate rich but with a nice cool elegance and airiness. A refined Genevrieres for the vintage.

(Drink from 2025) – Very Fine– (92 – 93p) – Tasted 29/03/2017

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Benjamin Leroux, Gevrey Chambertin 2015
The Gevrey Chambertin is the largest cuvée made at Maison Benjamin Leroux. The bouquet offer quite expressive aromas of raspberries, plum redcurrant and hints of liquorice. It’s a rich and quite ripe – but a classic Gevrey with it’s earthy mineral notes. On the palate quite weighty for this level – generous and almost velvet. A charming effort.

(Drink From 2025) – Very Good – (88 – 89p) – Tasted 29/03/2017

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Benjamin Leroux, Vosne-Romanée 2015
The Vosne-Romanée is mainly from the Flagey-Echezeaux side – Les Violettes, Maizieres Basses – and the 2015 version is a big and generous village. The nose is offering rich and ripe fruit, profound and perfumed with a lovely spiciness. On the palate velvet and rich with plenty of stuffing … a big wine on the riper side, still maintain it’s balance and the result is quite seductive.

(Drink From 2026) – Very Good – (89 – 90p) – Tasted 29/03/2017

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Benjamin Leroux, Chambolle-Musigny 2015
The Chambolle-Musigny village seems cooler and more vibrant than the pervious reds. It’s (at least partly) from the area above Bonnes-Mares where one find the village terroir Les Véroilles. The nose offer fine vibrant red and dark berry fruit – raspberries and pomegranate – quite expressive offering plenty of minerality – this is a very interesting wine terroir wise. On the palate vibrant and cool fruit – fresh for the vintage – with a lovely mineral verve. This is a lovely Chambolle village in the making.

(Drink From 2026) – Fine – (90 – 91p) – Tasted 29/03/2017

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Benjamin Leroux, Bonnes-Mares 2015
The Bonnes-Mares is another quite cool and lovely 2015 in the making. It offers impressive intensity and a lovely balance – quite expressive with layers of deep ripe fruit – vibrant and juicy with a strong mineral backbone. It’s a Bonnes Mares build for the long run – really like the minerality and airy fruit. This terroir seems to do well in hotter years .. the 2009 from Benjamin is showing very fine promise and the 2015 will perhaps even surpass the lovely 09.

(Drink From 2032) – Very Fine+ – (94 – 95p) – Tasted 29/03/2017

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Benjamin Leroux, Echezeaux 2015
The Echezeaux is also a tremendous wine – coming from one of my favorite climats Les Cruots ou Vignes Blanches. This is a very juicy and vibrant Echezeaux – like other wines from this part of the vineyard – the mid-palate offer layers of energetic fruit – delightful balance and verve. The nose is slightly closed currently – but the fine minerality from the fine terroir is still lurking beneath the layered ripe fruit – notes of raspberries, redcurrant, strawberries, rose petals. What a delightful glass of Echezeaux – quite classy come to think of it.

(Drink From 2032) – Very Fine+ – (94 – 95p) – Tasted 29/03/2017

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Benjamin Leroux, Chambertin 2015
The Chambertin is a big wine – and quiet expressive with 75% whole cluster grapes in this cuvée. Slight reduction in play here .. yet still showing fine detail. The nose is brimming with ripe and airy fruit – notes of strawberries, boysenberries and a hint of rose petals. On the palate rich and seductive ripe fruit – strong mineral backbone with a saline finish. This is a big and ripe wine … but the verve and energy is lovely despite it’s quite high level of ripeness.

(Drink From 2032) – Outstanding – (94 – 95p) – Tasted 29/03/2017

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Tasting Notes for this producer

• Benjamin Leroux, Echezeaux 2014 March 10, 2018
• Benjamin Leroux, Bonnes Mares 2009 February 7, 2017
• Benjamin Leroux, Gevrey Chambertin 2013 September 27, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Gevrey Aux Etelois 2013 September 27, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Clos de la Roche 2013 September 27, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Mazoyere Chambertin 2013 September 27, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Thorey 2013 September 27, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Gevrey Les Goulots 2013 September 27, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Bonnes Mares 2013 September 21, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Clos de Vougeot 2013 September 20, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses 2013 September 20, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Clos Saint Denis 2012 March 14, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Corton Charlemagne 2012 February 21, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Meursault 2012 February 21, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot 2007 February 18, 2015
• Benjamin Leroux, Clos Saint Denis 2011 March 14, 2014
• Benjamin Leroux, Meursault 2011 March 5, 2014
• Benjamin Leroux, Puligny Montrachet 2010 February 28, 2013

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